Schools

Students interested in attending the Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria and Lorton, Va. can audition on Sun., Mar. 1 at MSA Lorton Campus at 9601 Ox Road. Auditions are required as part of the 2015-2016 academy registration. The MSA Academy audition is for performing arts students from 6th grade to 12th grade. Students should call 703-339-0444 ext.3 or visit www.metropolitanarts.org to register for an audition time.

The audition process will give prospective students an opportunity to demonstrate his or her skills in dance, music and theater for the chairs of the respective arts departments. Applicants must attend a live audition if they live within three geographical states of MSA. Prospective students living beyond the three-state radius may submit a DVD audition.

In support of Autism Awareness Month, Metropolitan School of the Arts is asking all of its studio students to ‘go blue’ now through April 30. Students who wear blue during class, Monday through Friday in April, Metropolitan School of the Arts will donate $1 for each student that wears blue, per day. Go to www.metropolitanarts.org for a full schedule of classes and registration.

Metropolitan School of the Arts offers pre-professional dance, theatre, musical and vocal studio classes for youth and teens, as well as adult dance and fitness classes, including Metro Barre, yoga and Pilates.

District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) welcomed back thousands of students across the city for the 2012-2013 school year that started on August 27th. While official enrollment numbers won’t be available until later this fall, DCPS is on track for a positive and productive year that will include modernized facilities across the district, new math standards and curriculum, innovation and technology and improved instruction. These improvements and efforts all come under the strategic direction of A Capital Commitment, DCPS’ five-year, bold plan to improve the school district.

Over the next few weeks, roughly 79 million students will head back to schools around the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. When the school year resumes, so too will the perpetual cycle of students missing days of school because they fear bullying. Each day, it is estimated that 160,000 students stay home from school to avoid being bullied.

“The first step in preventing bullying is to realize that we all share common traits and we all need to feel safe, accepted, and liked for who we are,” explains Peter J. Goodman, author of the book “We’re All Different But We’re All Kitty Cats.” “One of the main themes in my book is tolerance, because it is crucial, especially when we live in such a diverse world.”

Fresh Healthy Vending and Healthy Child Healthy World have teamed up to give away a free healthy vending machine placement. The winning entry will choose their favorite location to have the machine placed, completely stocked with healthy foods and beverages. The move is the latest in a series of ongoing efforts to help fight childhood obesity, an issue that the Centers for Disease Control says now affects 17 percent of all children and adolescents in America.

“The rate of childhood obesity is considered to be triple what it was a generation ago,” explains Dan Negroni, the chief executive officer and president of Fresh Healthy Vending Café (www.freshvending.com). “Our mission is to be part of the solution in fighting childhood obesity, and this is just one more way that we are helping to do that. Now at least one lucky consumer will have their say on where a healthy vending machine should be placed.”